OHL North Bay Battalion

Wolski caps five-point night at Toronto with OT winner

Published on February 23, 2006 under Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
North Bay Battalion News Release


TORONTO - Wojtek Wolski scored on the power play at 1:14 of overtime to lift the Brampton Battalion to a come-from-behind 5-4 victory over the Toronto St. Michael's Majors in Ontario Hockey League action Thursday night.

Luch Aquino scored three goals and assisted on the winner for the Battalion, which trailed 4-1 early in the second period. Wolski had four assists for a five-point game and set a club record for points in a season with 93, surpassing Raffi Torres's 91 in 1999-00.

Jason Cassidy had the other Battalion goal, while Bryan Pitton, who came on in relief of starting goaltender Daren Machesney, got the win, stopping all 13 shots he faced. Machesney gave up four goals on 16 shots.

Cory Vitarelli scored two goals and Justin Donati and Derek Lewis one each for Toronto. Donati, Scott Lehman and Jeff Larsh each had two assists, while goaltender Wayne Savage, who made a 22nd consecutive start, faced 37 shots.

The Battalion improved its won-lost-extended record to 33-21-3 for 69 points, second in the Central Division, and matched its victory total for last season. Third-place Toronto is 28-20-9 for 65 points.

The Battalion last won after trailing by three goals on Jan. 14, 2001, in a 6-4 victory over the visiting Kitchener Rangers. The Troops had never accomplished the feat on the road.

The game, the Battalion's fourth of five straight road dates, completed the season series with Toronto, with the Troops posting a 4-1-1 record. The Battalion, which has won its last three on the road, is 10-3-0 in its last 13 away from home.

Lehman was assessed a slashing penalty 40 seconds into overtime, setting up Wolski's winner, his 35th goal of the season, off a slap shot from the right-wing faceoff dot.

Aquino's 20th of the season, on the power play at 16:34 of the third period, forced overtime. Aquino, who has scored three goals in each of the last two games, took a pass in the neutral zone from Wolski and cruised across the Toronto blue line to blast a shot from the top of the right circle.

Aquino was well rested after drawing a diving penalty and concomitant misconduct at 19:28 of the second period, taking himself out of action for more than half the third.

The Majors scored three goals in a span of 4:34 early in the second period, driving Machesney from the net. Donati connected on a power-play slap shot from high in the left-wing circle at 1:28 for his team-leading 44th goal, and defenceman Lewis scored on a screened shot from the right-wing boards 24 seconds later.

Vitarelli put a close-in rebound past Machesney on the power play at 6:02, bringing Pitton off the bench. It was Vitarelli's 38th goal.

With the teams skating four-a-side, Aquino scored on a three-on-two rush at 13:36, slamming a pass from Wolski into the open net from the right side.

Cassidy brought the Battalion within 4-3 on the power play at 19:03. Wolski fired a shot from the right point, and Cassidy chipped the rebound high into the net for his 10th goal.

Vitarelli opened the scoring on the power play at 4:10 of the first period. Lehman's high shot from the blue line bounced off the end glass and into the crease, with Vitarelli winning a scramble for the puck.

Aquino tied it at 17:09. Wolski, carrying the puck, and Aquino raced into the Toronto zone and collided with a defender. The puck bounced to Aquino, who fired a 30-footer off the inside of the right post.

Toronto's Tyler Donati hit the left post about eight minutes into the period, and Howie Martin tested Savage with a shot from the left wing soon afterwards. Machesney made his best save of the period when he got his left pad on a close-in shot by Justin Donati in the 13th minute, then had to stop him again on a breakaway out of the penalty box in the first minute of the second period.

Battalion scratches were Stephane Chabot, Nolan Waker, Michal Klejna and Corey George. Michael McGurk, Anthony Tapper, Tyler Haskins, Cassidy Preston and Peter Franchin were scratched for Toronto.

The Battalion visits the Mississauga IceDogs at 7:30 p.m. Friday. Fans in the Brampton area can see the game live on Rogers Cable 10, with an audio simulcast available on battalionhockey.com.

BATTALION NOTEBOOK: Attendance at St. Michael's College School Arena was 885 ... The Battalion went 3-for-6 on the power play. Toronto was 3-for-3 ... The Battalion is 17-11-1 on the road, while Toronto is 13-8-6 at home ... In extended games, the Battalion has nine wins, one overtime loss and two shootout losses. Toronto has seven wins, six overtime losses and three shootout losses beyond 60 minutes ... The Troops are 12-9-3 within the division and 22-12-3 against the Eastern Conference ... The Battalion is 15-14-1 when the opposition scores first and 18-7-2 when getting the first goal ... The Battalion has six home games and five road games left in the season. The Majors have seven at home and four on the road ... Michael Vernace earned assists on the last two Battlion goals and is tied with Jason Maleyko as the highest-scoring defenceman in club history with 105 points. Vernace has 21 goals and 84 assists in 127 career games to share 16th spot in all-time club scoring ... Wolski, who has 58 assists, eclipsed Torres's record made up of 43 goals and 48 assists ... Wolski is on a seven-game points streak during which he has scored 10 goals and added 11 assists for 21 points. It's the OHL's longest current such streak ... Cassidy and Toronto's Matt Halischuk collided on the end boards in the second period, with Halischuk being cut on the chin. Halischuk bled profusely before being helped to the dressing room and taken to hospital ... Opening Battalion line combinations included Wolski centring left winger Aaron Snow and right winger Aquino, Martin with left winger Luke Lynes and right winger Cassidy and Justin Levac centring left winger Taylor Raszka and right winger Matt Smyth. Graham McNabb skated with John Seymour on left wing and Cody Smith on the right ... McNabb marked his 19th birthday ... Smith returned after missing four games to a food allergy.

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Ontario Hockey League Stories from February 23, 2006


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